Planning for Swifts

A Talk and a Thought

Swifts are one of many species for whom things are not going well. Between 1995 and 2021 there was a 62% decline in swift numbers. In the north east it was 78% which is the greatest fall across the UK.

Hexham Swift Heaven is trying to reverse, or at least slow down, that serious loss of these super birds in our town.

The Talk

If you’d like to hear more about the work being done then the Swift Heaven team will be delivering a talk about all things swift (sorry not Taylor) as part of the Hexham Library WinterTide activities. The event will be at 7.00pm on 13th February at the library.

The Thought

One of the major impacts on swifts is the loss of nesting sites as older buildings are renovated and new buildings have no space for swifts.

Hexham has some significant building projects underway or anticipated. It is important that we look out for the needs of swifts in these projects. Where planners have stipulated measures to support swifts (or other birds) perhaps by the inclusion of swift nesting bricks into walls, then how do we ensure those measures are actually delivered?

Finally on planning, Hexham Swift Heaven are keeping an eye on how Northumberland County Council develops its Local Nature Renewal Strategy (LNRS).

This is a new way of prioritising nature needs on a more local and focused level. Every top tier local authority is expected to deliver a LNRS agreeing targets and aims for increasing biodiversity by mapping current levels of nature and then highlight areas for improvement.

The DEFRA guidance breaks down the LNRS process into a few steps:

Map designated sites and irreplaceable habitats,
Describe the area and opportunities for nature,
Identify potential measures,
Map areas that could become important for biodiversity.

What this may fail to encompass is the built environment and the nature that depends on it. Swifts moved from tree and cliff dwelling to live with us in our houses and buildings. If we make those inhospitable for them then for the swifts there’s no going back, only greater decline.

We’ll be watching this one closely.

So How Can I Get Involved?

Together We Change The World For The Better. Transition Tynedale is entirely reliant on the energy and commitment of our volunteers to make its projects happen.